“Surely Orliński has the most compelling, most otherworldly beautiful voice on the planet.”—ArtsATL
Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński and the early music group Il Pomo d’Oro are appearing at Hodgson Concert Hall Sunday, April 21st at 3 p.m. Orliński, who is in his early 30s, models, acts and breakdances in addition to performing on operatic and concert stages around the world. His afternoon here will not include breakdancing but will feature unforgettable vocal gymnastics.
Their program, Beyond, showcases rarely performed works from the 16th and 17th centuries by Monteverdi, Caccini, Frescobaldi, Cavalli, Strozzi, and others in what is surely one of the most highly anticipated events of the UGA Presents season.
JAKUB JÓZEF ORLIŃSKI
One of the most beloved and celebrated opera stars of this decade, Jakub Józef Orliński has established himself as one of the world’s leading artists, triumphing on stage, in concert, and on recordings. His sold-out concerts and recitals throughout Europe and America have attracted new followers to the art form. An exclusive artist on the Warner Classics/Erato label, his most recent recording accompanied by friend and pianist Michał Biel entitled Farewells earned him the prestigious Opus Klassik award for Male Singer of the Year (2023). His new album Beyond was released in October 2023, and he is touring throughout the world with il Pomo d’Oro.
Highlights of this season include the highly anticipated 25-date European tour of the new album in the fall, and an American tour during spring. Orliński will also return on the operatic stage at the Theatre des Champs-Elysées, Paris in a new production of L’Olimpiade by Vivaldi. He will then join his long-time musical partner, pianist Michał Biel, for exclusive recitals throughout Europe.
In the 2022-2023 season, the Polish countertenor went to Théâtre des Champs-Élysées for a sold out run of the Robert Carsen production of Orfeo ed Eurydice followed by another new production of the same opera at San Francisco Opera by Matthew Ozawa. Orliński also joined il Pomo d’Oro on a tour to sing the title role in Tolomeo Re d’Egitto on major stages throughout Europe including Teatro Real, Madrid and Paris. Outside the operatic stage, the public had the opportunity to watch the new 1-hour documentary Music for a while about him that was released during spring on Arte and got the most views for a cultural documentary on the European TV channel.
IL POMO D’ORO
The ensemble il Pomo d’Oro was founded in 2012. It is characterized by an authentic, dynamic interpretation of operas and instrumental works from the Baroque and Classical periods. The musicians are all well-known specialists and are among the best in the field of historical performance practice. The ensemble so far has worked with the conductors Riccardo Minasi, Maxim Emelyanychev, Stefano Montanari, George Petrou, Enrico Onofri, and Francesco Corti. Concertmaster Zefira Valova leads the orchestra in various projects. Since 2016 Emelyanychev has been its chief conductor, and since 2019 Corti is principal guest conductor.
Il Pomo d’Oro is a regular guest in prestigious concert halls and festivals all over Europe. The group’s discography includes several opera recordings: G. F. Händel’s Agrippina, Serse, Tamerlano, Partenope, and Ottone, Leonardo Vinci’ s Catone in Utica, and Alessandro Stradella’s La Doriclea. It features recitals with the countertenors Jakub Józef Orliński, Franco Fagioli, Max Emanuel Cencic, and Xavier Sabata, with mezzo sopranos Ann Hallenberg and Joyce DiDonato, and with sopranos Lisette Oropesa, Emöke Barath and Francesca Aspromonte.
Among the ensemble’s instrumental albums are recordings of Haydn’s violin and harpsichord concertos as well as a cello album with Edgar Moreau, which received Echo Klassik Awards in 2016. Further instrumental recordings are dedicated to the violin concertos and the harpsichord concertos by J.S. Bach, with Shunske Sato and Francesco Corti as soloists, and virtuoso violin concertos with Dmitry Sinkonvsky.
In 2022 il Pomo d’Oro started a long-term recording project of Mozart symphonies and selected solo concertos with Emelyanychev conducting. The first volume, The Beginning and the End, was released with Aparté in early 2023, featuring Mozart’s first and last symphonies and Piano Concerto No. 23 with Emelyanychev as soloist.
The albums Anima Sacra with Jakub Józef Orliński, and Voglio Cantar with soprano Emöke Barath received the prestigious Opus-Klassik award, and the recording of G.F. Händel’s Serse, conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev, was awarded the Italian Abbiato del Disco. In 2018, the recording of Alessandro Stradella’s opera La Doriclea, conducted by Andrea di Carlo, recieved the German Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik.
Il Pomo d’Oro is official ambassador of El Sistema Greece, a humanitarian project providing free musical education to children in Greek refugee camps. Il Pomo d’Oro plays charity concerts and offers workshops and music lessons according to the El Sistema method on a frequent regular basis in various refugee camps in Greece.
The name of the ensemble il Pomo d’Oro refers to Antonio Cesti’s opera from the year 1666. Composed for the wedding celebrations of Emperor Leopold I and Margarita Teresa of Spain, Il pomo d’oro was probably one of the largest, most expensive and most spectacular opera productions in the still young history of the genre. Twenty-four different stage designs, an equestrian ballet of 300 horses, a fireworks display of 73,000 rockets, and numerous special effects should have made the Emperor’s court the highlight of cultural splendor in Europe.
PERFORMANCE TALK
Join us for a free pre-performance talk by Theresa Chafin in Ramsey Concert Hall from 2:15-2:45 pm.
SUPPORTED BY
Dr. Maxine and John Rofrano
Thomas Wilfong
THREE WAYS TO ORDER TICKETS
- Purchase tickets online 24/7 online here.
- Call the Performing Arts Center Box Office at (706) 542-4400, Mon.-Fri., 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Visit the UGA Performing Arts Center Box Office, Mon.-Fri., 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (5 minute parking is available in the drop off circle at the Performing Arts Center for purchasing or picking up tickets.)
Photo: Honorata Karapuda